Description

The DarkStar Group is seeking a Linux DevOps Engineer with a TS/SCI CI Poly clearance to join one of our top projects in Herndon, VA. Below is an overview of the project, as well as information on our company, our benefits, and our $25,000 referral program.

THE PROJECT

The DarkStar Group's team solves unique and challenging intelligence problems for a Special Operations customer. This work is as close to the mission as a technologist can get, so the environment is fast-paced: team members face rapidly-changing requirements and priorities as mission needs evolve. If you hate monotony and want to use your skills to have a direct impact on real-world operational success, this is the project for you.

We are a multi-faceted software development and systems administration team working to build and maintain software applications backed by a self-managed cloud infrastructure (OpenStack) with a true big-data footprint (over 10 petabytes). Our diverse background of experience in mission support and software development serves as a catalyst to solve unique and challenging intelligence problems in support of special operations analysts and their on-going activities. Prototyping and frequent, iterative feedback are core to our delivery approach, anchored by a need to work quickly in support of our missions.

The technical stack is quite robust and includes Java, Python, C#, C/C , Geospatial tools, Big Data and Graph Products (Hadoop, MapReduce, Spark, ElasticSearch, Neo4j), Linux, OpenStack, AWS, Ansible, SQL/NoSQL, Text Processing, Cloud Services, Containerization, Infrastructure as Code (IAC), and more.

Work on this program takes place in the Herndon, VA area (we cannot support remote work) and requires a TS clearance and a willingness to obtain a CI Poly: a current TS/SCI CI Poly is preferred.

THE ROLE

Infrastructure team members focus on several things on any given day. The main objective is monitoring and acting on any outages on the platform to include hardware and software. Engineers also engage with the tenants and users of the Openstack Cloud Platform via chat services, assisting with any requests they may have. When not monitoring the system or engaging with users, a few things you might be working on could be upgrading/deploying applications, R&D on exposing new technology/services within Openstack or reviewing and updating existing documentation for better readability. Lastly, you may also be included in future hardware planning as we're continuing to grow our footprint and our mission partners have no shortage of unique and challenging problems to solve.

Required Skills

• Must be a US citizen.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software Engineering or a related field (4 additional years of experience may be substituted for a Bachelor’s degree. A Master's degree may count as an additional 2 years of experience.).
• 5 years demonstrated experience with administration of Linux based environments
• Working knowledge of automation scripts: Ansible, Salt, CloudFormation, Terraform
• At least understands the concepts of Python
• Ability to support wide range of tasks (upgrade software, patching, monitoring systems, R&D)
• Willing to work on-site in Herndon, VA

Desired Skills (Optional)

• Full-stack development experience in Python
• Openstack administration/ deployment
• Kubernetes orchestration
• Experience with Data driven tools like Hadoop, HDFS, accumulo, ElasticSearch
• Experience with provision and configuration management tools such as Ansible, Terraform, or similar
• Experience with Docker, GitLab, AWS, some exposure to Security (Cyber and RMF/ATO)
• Any experience working with GPUs and/or virtualizing their resources
• Strong verbal, written, and organizational skills
• Adjust quickly to ad-hoc requests
• Ability to collaborate, work in a mix environment of team and solo

About The DarkStar Group

Our Company

The DarkStar Group is a small business that solves BIG problems. We're one of the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private companies in the US, and our engineers and scientists support the most critical national security missions in Virginia, Maryland, and elsewhere. Data Science, Software Engineering, Cloud/AWS Infrastructure, and Cyber/CNO are our core areas of expertise. We offer interesting and important work, job security, some of the best and most flexible benefits you'll find in the IC, and salaries so strong that they'll likely surprise you. 

Our Benefits

The DarkStar Group offers exceptional compensation and benefits:

• very strong salaries;
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for you and all dependents;
• the ability to get increased salary if you don't need medical/dental/vision;
• 100% company-paid disability and life insurance benefits;
• a generously-funded HSA;
• an 8% 401(k) contribution; 
• 31 days of PTO/holidays to start (more with tenure);
• the ability to flex time across pay periods without using your PTO;
• a generous training budget;
• $25,000 employee referral bonuses;
• business development / growth incentives; and
• top notch company swag.

** We have a huge growth opportunity, so we are offering up to a $25,000 reward for anyone new you refer whom we hire. **
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.